ORT&TRAU 3000 - Musculoskeletal Biomechanics and Health

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2021

The course Musculoskeletal Biomechanics and Health will present evidence for the essential role of physical activity and musculoskeletal loading in human health. The role of musculoskeletal loading through the lifespan will be explored, from conception to old age, including during musculoskeletal tissue development. The course will cover the basic concepts of skeletal biomechanics, including forces, stress, strain, fatigue, creep, fracture, stress shielding, kinetics and associated measurement techniques. The course will cover the function of specific musculoskeletal components including muscle and bone cells, their innervation, vascular supply and the role of signalling molecules affecting, and produced by, bone and muscle. Evidence will be examined for the influence of age, genetics, sex hormones, inflammation, chronic illness, under- and over-loading, and the role of specific genes, in the transduction of mechanical forces into the maintenance of tissue health. In addition, injury biomechanics, including the consequences of fracture, joint dislocation, tendon and ligament rupture, will be considered. Students will explore the evidence linking aberrant biomechanics with osteoarthritis, chronic overloading leading to stress fractures, fragility fractures resulting from biomechanically inadequate bone, and sarcopenia leading to poor muscle control and strength. Students will learn about how gait and physical activity are measured and assessed and their rapidly growing roles in disease management. Teaching modes will include face-to-face lectures, problem-solving group tutorials, the use of class discussion boards and links to suggested readings from the research literature.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ORT&TRAU 3000
    Course Musculoskeletal Biomechanics and Health
    Coordinating Unit Medical Studies
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites ANAT SC 2009 or MEDIC ST 1000B
    Assumed Knowledge Basic anatomy and physiology; basic mathematics (trig); HLTH SC 2106
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Claire Jones

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    1. Define and explain basic mechanical concepts, i.e. force, moments, stress, strain, creep, fracture, kinematics in the musculoskeletal system.
    2. Describe the nature of musculoskeletal loading at different human age groups.
    3. Describe the role of mechanical loading in musculoskeletal disease and injury.
    4. Evaluate the evidence that physical activity enhances musculoskeletal health.
    5. Conduct a critical analysis of the evidence linking improved musculoskeletal health with improved systemic health.

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,3,4,5
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    4, 5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    3,4,5
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    3,4,5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Students will be assigned readings from key journals in the field.
    Recommended Resources
    Students will require access to:

    Reading lists
    The Khan Academy
    Standard library resources
    Online Learning
    MyUni will be used for the following:

    • Quizzes
    • Group discussion boards
    • Lecture material
    • Lecture recordings
    • Tutorial material
    • Suggested readings

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Lectures supported by problem-solving tutorials developing material covered in lecture/s.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements. 

    Lectures - 12x1 = 12hours 
    Tutorials - 12x2 = 24hours


    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

    Specific Course Requirements
    Course pre-requisites: Successful completion of ANAT SC 2009 Musculoskeletal Anatomy or MEDIC ST 1000 First Year MBBS Exam.  Assumed knowledge for BHMS students: HLTH SC 2106 Fundamentals of Biomechanics and Healt.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    The SGDE will take the form of the tutorials, with individual activities, such as demonstrating understanding of a relevant journal article), and group tasks, such as demonstrating understanding of the methods used to measure musculoskeletal loading- amount and frequency- in individuals with musculoskeletal disorders. Lab visits with SGDE may be provided if possible.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

     

    Assessment Task Type of Assessment
    Weighting
    Hurdle Requirement?
    Learning Outcome(s) being assessed/Acheived
    Topic report Summative and Formative

    10%

    No 2, 3
    Three-minute oral presentation Summative and Formative 10% No 4, 5
    Quiz Formative 20% No 1 - 5
    Weekly tutorial tasks and particpation Formative 20% No 1 - 5
    Exam Summative 32% No 1 - 5
    Test Summative 8% No 1 - 5

     

    Assessment Detail
    Topic Report (10%): Students will individually prepare a report (literature review)on how biomechanics can influence the structure and function of a musculoskeletal tissue during a defined period of an individual’s life.

    Oral Presentation (10%): Students will individually prepare and deliver a presentation on how biomechanics and physical activity type/level can influence the natural history of a musculoskeletal disease, with a focus on the tissue of interest and discussion of the impact on systemic health. Presentations will be given in small groups or pairs.

    Quizzes (20%) Students will take undertake open-book online quizzes covering all aspects of the course material at regular intervals.

    Tutorial participation and tasks (20%): Students will be required to attend weekly tutorials and to engage in class activities (such as demonstrating understanding of a relevant journal article) and complete individual or group tasks during the tutorials (such as demonstrating understanding of the methods used to measure musculoskeletal loading- amount and frequency- in individuals with musculoskeletal disorders).

    Exam (32%): A 2 hour exam, using a mixture of MQC and short answer question, and long answer questions understanding of all course material.

    Mid-semester Test (8%): A timed test, administered via myUni, around the mid-semester break.
    Submission
    • Feedback for the presentations will be available online for students
    • Quizzes will be taken online and automatically marked. The questions will be taken from a large bank of questions in a random  
       manner with the order of answers randomised
    • Weekly tutorial tasks will be submitted at the completion of each tutorial

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.